sets 1 of 2

Definition of setsnext
present tense third-person singular of set
1
as in spawns
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

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as in sits
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

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sets

2 of 2

noun

plural of set
1
as in factions
a group of people acting together within a larger group the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale

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as in decors
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production built sets for the play

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sets
Verb
Best Amazon Kitchen Deals The sale prices in the kitchen category are also exceptional, with 12-piece cookware sets under $100, cooking utensil sets under $25, and must-have kitchen tools—like a two-pack of fruit and veggie peelers and a best-selling milk frother—for $10. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Feb. 2026 McLachlan noted that state law already sets strict massage standards. James Taylor, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026 For Nissan, their reliability numbers is truly what sets them apart, in addition to the exterior aesthetics that have always been the Armada’s strong suit. Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026 According to François Godard, a media and telecoms analyst at Enders Analysis, the $71B Disney-Fox deal from late last decade, which was waved through by the EU but examined minutely, sets the closest recent precedent for Hollywood M&A in the continent. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026 This is a crucial stage of embryonic development, as the final, off-center position of the blastocoel sets the axis of symmetry for the mouse’s back and belly. Clare Watson, Quanta Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026 What sets Vulcan apart from its ULA predecessors is its Centaur V upper stage. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026 Chaganty sets the action primarily in the Sherman house, creating an environment that feels both intimate and suffocating. Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026 The two are in love with each other, with love itself and with music — all of which sets the path of their songwriting career. Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
Noun
BlueWhale also supports mine countermeasures by locating sea mines on the seabed, expanding its operational utility across multiple mission sets. Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Feb. 2026 The sets are all a variation of a neutral white with several different motif options. Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026 Beyond costumes, the sets posed their own restoration hurdles. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026 Williamson, as many know, came onboard after two sets of directors departed the project. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026 Security cameras captured a masked thief snatching collectible LEGO sets from a shop in Redlands during an early-morning burglary. Zach Boetto, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026 Onions From Sets/Bulbs Onion sets are immature bulbs harvested from the previous year's crop and stored over winter for spring planting. Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026 That was actually two different sets. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026 What are the Pokémon Lego sets' prices? Rin Velasco, The Providence Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets
Verb
  • But reading the profile of Mohamad Eisa and Yolka Gessen left me with a kind of dread, the kind that comes when a spin-off from a hit show spawns a spin-off of its own, promising/threatening hundreds of new hours of content to keep up with.
    Jessa Crispin, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026
  • At the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Nadella sat for a conversation with the Forum’s interim co-chair, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, explaining that if AI growth spawns solely from investment, then that could be signs of a bubble.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • If the company chooses not to comply, a senior Pentagon official said Hegseth would invoke the Defense Production Act to compel Anthropic to do so anyway.
    Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
  • In Los Angeles, the council chooses its own president.
    Sara Albrecht, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Morton plays Bayard, Michael’s celebrity lawyer father who casts a long shadow and values success above all else.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026
  • American culture values this strong work ethic and its role in supporting the world’s largest economy.
    Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Fontaine sits adjacent to the main stretches and perfectly mirrors that Old World look with a dose of modern shine.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Nationally, the percentage of fourth graders considered proficient in reading sits just above 30%, according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nation's report card.
    MAKIYA SEMINERA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The company has also worked with the Air Force Research Laboratory on the Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator program, which aims to prove rapid design and production of complete missile systems.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 25 Feb. 2026
  • The bill aims to increase the state's housing supply by opening the door to two single-family homes, duplexes and, in some cases, accessory dwelling units, otherwise known as granny flats, in areas of the state zoned as residential.
    Kaitlin Lange, IndyStar, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • That’s if his county decides to enact a sales tax, the proceeds of which would have to be applied to homeowner property tax credits.
    Meghan O'Brien, States Newsroom, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Under Arizona rules, the person who claims the prize is the person who signs the ticket, but if the court decides the ticket legally belongs to Circle K, the company could argue that it be awarded the prize.
    Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Sam eventually secures a gig babysitting his therapist’s (Hirsch) three granddaughters, which in turn thrusts him into the rarefied (if a bit closed) world of their parents, including Alessandro Nivola as their would-be rockstar dad David and Peet as their former movie star mom Dianne.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Jackson also secures the release of 48 Cuban and Cuban American prisoners in Cuba and brings them back to the United States — most of the Americans released had been jailed on drug-trafficking charges.
    Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The extra $321 a month the couple now puts toward health premiums will force them to live a leaner lifestyle, Nancy said.
    Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
  • That puts the fear of God into him.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

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